Coke-oven decarbonization



Feb. 3, .1925T l WILPUTTE COKE OVEN DECARBONIZATION 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 14 INVENTOR ,/MMZ

ATTORNEY ou/5 W/z. PUTTE BY WM g Feb. 3, 1925.

L. WILPUTTE COKE OVEN DECARBONIZATION original Filed May 14, 1921 3 sheets-sheet z f RW ma NP wu mw w o Z ATTORNEY Feb. 3, 1925.

' L. WILPUTTE COKE OVEN DECARBONIZATION '3 Sheets-Sheet 5 riginal Filed May 14 -Reagued-I-sa a, 192,5,

AUNITED STATES- PAjr-sNr mance.4

LOUIS WILIfUT'rE, oF NEW ROQHELLE, NEW YORK, AssIGN'oB. or TWO-THIRDS T0 ALICE A. wILPU'rrE, or NEW ROCHELLE. NEW YoRx.-

COKE-OVEN nEcABBoNIz'ATIoN.-

` Original No. 1,485,361, datedlovcmber 14, 192,2,- Serial No. 469,506,111ed Hay 14, 1921.

Application for t reissue led October 10, 1924. Serial No. 742,923.

To all who'm it mail'conccw.'

Be it known vthat I` LOUIS IVILPU'ITE, a citizen-of the United States, and resident of New Rochelle, Te'stchester County, and ,I State of New York` have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coke- Oven Decarbonization, of which the following is a specification. y My present invention consists in an iin- A101i proved method of,` and apparatus for eliminating carbon deposits from the fuelv gas supply channels of coke ovens. and was primarily devised vand is especially adapted.

for use in regenerative coke ovens having l vertical heating fines.

In they general type of byhproduct regenerative coke ovens in most extensive use in this country, the heating walls between the coking chambers are providedwith a series of vertical flues which receive combustible gas at their lower ends through channels extending Ahorizontally into the oven structure from the 'opposite `vsides of the battery to the flow reversal plane located approximately midway between the sides of the battery. Each of these gas supply channels in an 'oven of the ordinary dimensions, is

in the neighborhood of eighteen to twenty feet in length, and supplies fuel gas to the various vertical heating -fines in the corresponding portion of the heating wall. Ordinarily something like twelve to sixteen vertical heating flues are sup lied with gas from each gas channel each ue being conl nected Ato the Aappropriate gas supply channelfby an individual passage lncluding a gas measuring nozzle of refractory earthen-A ware.

The gas channels are located in brickwork .wall portions of the oven structure,

which are highly heated, and the as passing to thel vertical heating lues a jacent `the center ofthe battery is thus highly heated,

while the gas passing to the flues adjacent 45 the sides ofthe battery is less highly heated v H because the cooling effect ofthe gas flowing a. perature e to which the fuel gas'is -thus subjected tends to fcrack its hydro-carbonconstitiitents with a resultant deposit of solid three-eighths to three-fourths of an inch inV diameter. are so small that a relatively small. amount of carbon deposition lis sufficient to wholly or largely close them.

The trouble caused by carbon deposition 1s of such a serious character that it -is reg? ular operating pract1ce to provide men whose sole or principal duty it is to punch carbon out of the nozzle orifices and to replace nozzles broken in this punching out operation. To punch the carbon out of thenozzles is a diiicult and arduous operation since it Amust be done -froin the top of the oven structure by -means of iron bars. inserted through apertures -left for the purpose in the upper portion of the oven structure.

The temperatures to which/these bars are subjected are'so high that the bars lose their normal rigidity after a few seconds Iuse` and considerable skill is required to enable the operator to insert lthe end of the bar into the eye of a nozzle located a dozen feet or so beneath his feet when the bar itself is highly flexible and the nozzle and the walls of the. fines into which he must look are white hot. -In consequence nozzles are broken with considerable frequency in' lthe punching out operation.

In ordlnary regenerative coke ovens, gas

issupplied throughv each gas supply channelv intermittently. To minimize the troubles made in the pastl to feed airinto each horizontal gas sup ly channel during. a portion or all of .the -tlme in which that channel is not passing gas to the vertical heating flues.

'dueto carbon' deposition provision has been The air thus supplied tends to burn out the carbon previously deposited in the gas channels, passages, and nozzles. In general, however, heretofore 'it `has'not been found possible to avoid the necessity for constant supervision and more or less frequent nozzle punching operations by fe'din air into the'gas channels, owing', p y, I be- "lieve, to the fact that heretoforeithe deends of the gas supply channels and thereby assure an adequate supply of decarbon-` izing air tothe nozzles adiacent the center.

l .of the battery Where the carbon deposition is the heaviest. lVhen theair is supplied tothe outer ends of the gas channels, the resistance to vthe flow through the channels7 and-the decreased density (due to its higher temperature) of the air reaching the inner nozzles as compared with the density of the air' reaching the outer nozzles makes it practically impossible to get suliicient. air into the-channels. for decarbonizing the`| inner nozzles;particularly when the flow capacity of the inner nozzle is obstructed more or less by carbon deposition. Without introducing more air into the outer ends of the gas channels than is desirable. Only a, relatively small amount .of ,decarbonizing' air can be introduced 'into-theouter endsot-the horizontal channels Without an objectioii-lil10WI1 type in Which the horizon able cooling effect on the Walls of thegas channels, and the cracking of the. bricks forming the channel Walls as a result of their contraction and expansion under the temperature variations. to which they are thus subjected.

In the practical'carrying out of my in vent'ion I supply air to the inner ends ot' the gas supply channel through special channels formed 1n the oven structure, and preferabl;7 utilize the .same reversing mecha-- nism b v which the How through the regenerator and heating tlues is reversed, at regular intervals to lstart and stop theftlow ofair through the special air supply channels at the proper intervals. The arr supply channels preferably include 'portions' extending from the sides oi: the hz'itterynearly to the center of the battery which are lo-.

cated in portions of the battery structure much less highly heated than are thelwalls of the gas supply channels, In consequence of thel length and disposition of the air suppl;7 channels` the decarbonizing air heats up gradually in its passage from the `out side of the battery to the innerends of the gas channelsand does not come in Contact withhighly heated portions of 4the oven brick work until' it is quite'highly heated. I thus avoid subjecting highly heated por# tions of theoven brick Workto the undesir-v able cooling effect of comparatively cold air.

Thevarions features of novelty which characterize my invention arepointed ont with part-icularity .in the claims annexed 'to' should be had to .the accompan ing drawings and descriptive matter in W ich I haveillustrated anddescribed preferred embod'iments oit' my invention.y

Of the drawings.' Fig. `1 is an elevation of a regenerative coke oven battery of Well known V section on the line 1-'1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a portion of the battery sho-Wn in Fig. ,.1 partly in section on the llinev2-2 of-Fig. l1; d

Fig. 3` is a somewhat diagrammatic plan vien' oi the battery, shown in Fig. l;

Fig, 4 is an enlarged sectionalelevation ou the line t1*l.of Fig.' 3;

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional elevation taken similarly to' Fig. l illustrating a modified '.construction;

6 lS 3, 6 6 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 .is a section on the line 7-7 of ll`ig.5. f5* In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawings I have illustrated theapplication of my in vvention to a regenerative coke oven of well ated byheating Walls channel F. The Igroupof dues E in each tal coking their upper ends by the so-called horizont-al type in partial section-on the -line 'i in which are `formed vertical hea-ting fines heat-ing` Wall at one side l-of the flow `reversal plane A-'-A which is located at, or approximately at the center of the battery, are connected by ports. or passages H5 to a gas supply channel H, individual-to that group of fines, While the 'other vertical flues by passages H5 to a corresponding gassupply channel HA. In operation the various channels- H and HA are intended to be alternately connected to a source of'fuel llues E. and is preheated during the periof:`

Vin ivhich gas is supplied to these. 'lnes y through the channels `During the periods in which the supply of gas through the channels H vis interrnpted, produots of "combustion are sucked downward from the corresponding lines-E through the ports D2 into the regenerator space or 'spaces .con- Anected` to those lues. Similarly the fines E connected to the supply channels) HA arel also connectedA to aregenerator space or E in the same heatingvvall are connected.

'gas by the usual piping' and `automatically actuated valves which are Well known and 119,

Y channel H2 spaces through which air flows upwardly ofthe channels `H and HA'to the dilferentu 'tlues- E to which the channel .is connected, .is'regulated by the sizes of the orifices or ports hrough the usual nozzles G seated one in' each gaspassage H5. Vertical channels E 'normally closed at the-1r upperends b v removable covers are providedA in the top of' the oven structure in line with thetlnes Erto Ipermit inspection and replacement of the nozzles G and to permit carbon to be punched out of thenozzle oritices if and whenl this may be necessary. In so far as above described the ,oven shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is of a standard tvpe of construct-ion in extensive use.

,In accordance with thc present invention decarbonizing air is supplied to the channels Hv and HAfat. appropriate times through .supply channels for`med in the ovensftrue'- v .turc and leading from the sides of the bat-v' tery to the inner ends lof the different gas supply channels `H and HA. -V`As shown in Figs. 1 and 2. decarbonizing airis supplied to each of `the channels H and HA through a corresponding vertical channel H2 formed in the .oven supportingr w'all and-connecting the corresponding` gas sup-v ply channel to the innerend of a horizontal channel H3 extending into the lower portion of- `the oven structure ro1n.'the'same side of the latter as the gas supply channel H or HA to which it is connected. To minimize the possibility ofthe channel H2 becoming cloggedjas by broken nozzle frag ments I may decrease the thickness in adirection transverse to the heating walls. of the upper end portion H of each channel H2 as it approaches'thc corresponding gas channel` and increase its dimensions parallel' to the length of the gas channel so that it opens to the latte-r through anY elongated slot-*like orifice va considerable portionA of which may be clogged without `material interference with the How of decarbonizing air. To prevent difficulty from small nozzle fragments o r the like falling downward through the channels H2'. I advantageol/isly provide a well H*5 in fthe oven foundation at the lower end/ of the ,vertical channel H2. `B v arranging' each channel H2 in vertical alignment with a flue E and passage- E it ,would be possible to inspect and to punch vout the upper end portion of the clogged. but in; general -I considerit preferable to arrange .the channels H2 out ,of alignment with the vhues E as shown' in Fig. 51 since with this'arrangement, the

in case the latter became.

possibility of the elongated narrow uppery ends vordischargeorifices of the channels- H2 becoming sutiici'entlyv clogged vto interfere with e'liicient operation vis very remote. The passage of air through the channels H2 andHS, is controlled by suitable valves or'connections atthe? outer .ends of the channels In the"construction shown in Figs. l tov 1, a valve .member Lis. provided atthe outer. end of each channel H3, which serves, when on its ,se/at L', to close thel outer end of the channel` andwhen lifted ott' its seat toopenthe outer end of the channel to the atmosphere so that atmospheric air may thenv be drawn into the-.corresponding gas supply .channel or HA. Advanf tageously the valve members L are operated the same reversing mechanism employed to control the admission of air discharge of products of combustion l'from the regeneratorsf As shown irrFigs. 1 to 4, each valve member L and its valve seat LA )forms part of a valve mechanlsm J which also lncludes to and the l n I a valve member J and a valve member J '.190

'The valve member eJregultes the escape-` of products of combustionfrom, and the valve .member J2 rgulates the admission yof air toga regenerator space-or spaces of the battery. AThe valve members L J t and J 2- of each valve mechanism J are oper- (ated by a common Avalve actuating lever J2. The latter is shifted in -onei direction to move thevalvemember J2 into its closed position and the valve members J and Ll into their open positions, and iis moved in the opposite direction to seat the 'valve members J and L, and to open the valve member J2 -by meansfofa 'cable hl shown 1n Fig. 8 as running around the battery and connected atits ends to a. reversing.

motor X ,placed at oneend bf the battery'. The cable M rims over suitable guide ApulleysM and is providedwith stopl collars M2 for shifting the ralve arms J3; l

As shown each valve actuating member J3 is pivotally connected to the corresponding valve casing at J", and is link'connected to the stems of the valve members J and J2. Each valve actuating member J2 includes a portion J5 workingyin a slotted yoke L2 secured to the upper sideof the Jcorresponding valve member L. the parts being soproportioned that notwithstanding the considerable movement giventhev art. J5 when the valveactuating member J3 is moved back and'forth, the /valve member L will notk be lifted unduly high above its seat. The valve members L drop .back to their seats undcrthe action of the gravity when permitted to do so. As a convenient `means for regulating the amount of air entering the channels H3, I provide' in the piping connecting theouter end of each channel to the corresponding valve ,seat L',

' formed by its combustion tion not g down through the spaces draws atmospheric air through the.

a union or coupling L* inwhich I place a disc L5 having an oritice which. determines the amount oi' air passing through the piping when the corresponding valve member is in its open position. To increase or decrease the rate at which air is'A drawn into any lchannel H, the corresponding measuring disc L5 may be replaced by another having a larger or smaller orifice respectively.

In the contemplated mode of operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. l to 4f, during anyperiod or stage in operation' in which gasis being supplied to the channels H, the valve members Land J- at the left hand side of the battery will be closed While the valve members L and J. at-the right hand side of the battery will be open, and the valve members J at the left hand side xot the batterywill be in open position and at the right hand side of the'battery will be closed. Under these conditions the suction of the staclor other suction producing device for drawing products of combustion right hand regenerative corresponding channels H2 and H3 into the gas supply channels HA and thence througlrthe passages H5 and gas `nozzles G into thelower ends of the corresponding Hues E from which the air and products pass through the ports D2 into the subjacent regenerator spaces. Then the iiow through the regenerators and iues is next reversed,the previously open valve members J J2 and L are closed and the previously closed valve members J J2 and L are opened, and atmospheric air is then drawn into the channels H The air thus supplied to the channels H and HA burns out carbon deposited in those channels and in the corresponding ports 'H5 fand nozzles G. Since air is being supplied to each gas supply nozzle Hand HA during half the time the battery is in operation the rate of'air in flow may be very low, and this coupled with the manner in-which the air is introduced, results in the air being heated to a comparatively high temperature before it enters the gas supply channels.A I thus avoid any undesirable cooling effect on the walls of the gas channels and consequent brick fractures and gas leakage. The described mod.: ot introduction of air into the gas supply channels and the high tempera-turc of the air. when introduced insure the proper decarbonizing eiiect in the inner ends of the gas supply 'channels and in the passages and nozzles directly connected thereto, where the greatest carbon deposition ordinarily occurs.

In respect to certain features of construcpreviously ref/erred to, and in the mannerin which they are connected between the regenerative spaces with which Aas from a blower yD and K, the

they are associated and the tunnels or conduits at the sides of the battery the valve mechanisms J shown in Figs. l to 4 are of the character employed in the VVilputte as distinguished from other standard types oit ovens, but the decarbonizing provisions Shown in Figs. l t i are applicable to various types and designs of oven. In particular they are as applicable to an oven of the Koppers type in which the air to be preheated is drawn into the regenerators from the external atmosphere by stack suction, as to' an oven of the `Wilputte type in 'which the air to be preheated is supplied tothe regenerators under pressure. In an oven of the l/Vilputte type there are certain advantages in supplying the decarbonizing air Aunder pressure from the same source from which air is passed-to the regenerators' to be preheated therein and in Figs. 5, y6 and 7 I have illustrated means for accomplishing this.

The usual means employed in the Vilf putte type of oven for supplying air to, and withdrawing products of combustion from the regenerators is shown in Figs. l and/i, and comprises conduits I and IA running along the opposite sides of the battery and each serving in one period of operation as an outlet for products of combustion and when` the flow through the battery is reversed as an air supply conduit. As shown in Fig. 3 the conduits I and IA. are alternatelyconnected atone end of the battery to a stack or exhaust fan connection I? by the valves I and I2. The conduits IA and I are also alternatively connected'at one vend of the battery by valves I3 and I, respectively, to a conduit I6 through which compressed air under pressure is supplied (not shown). The valves I', I2, I? and I* are operated by a suitable reversing mechanism (not shown') so that when the valve I' is open, the valve I* is also open and the valves I2 vand Il3 are closed and when the last mentioned valves are open, the valves I and I4 are closed. The conduit I is connected to the corresponding regenerative spaces D between each adjacent pair of oven supporting walls C by the casing of a corresponding valve mechanism J and two vchannels valve member J controllingl communication between the channel D and the conduit I, and the valve member J 2 controlling communication between the channel K and the conduit I. The conduit IA is similarly connected by valve mechanisms J and channels D and K to the regenerative spaces D at the opposite side of the battery. The channels K thus supply air to the regenerators and the channels D discharge products of combustion from the regenerators.

In the modification-'shown Ain Figs. 5, 6

which runs to the right hand side of the bat-.c

tery, and each channel H2 connected to a gas supply channel HA is connected by a passage h running to the left hand side of the battery. For structuralreasons and to avoid leakagetroubles the channels h and ha are not in alignment but are displaced as shown in Fig. 6. The valves LA of Figs. 5, 6, and 7, which replace the valves L of YFigs 1 4, serve to control the communication between the channels h and ha, and the the conduits I and IA respectively'. As shown eachv valve LA is mounted in a valve mechanism JA which differs from the valve mechanism J in that the actuating member JA3, replacing the member Js of the construction irst described is arranged to open the valve members LA and J 2 at the same time, and in that the valve member LA Works in a closed chamber L10 communicating through a port J1m with the chamber of the valve casing to which the corresponding regenerator air supply passage K is connected. l i

In` practice I prefer toiform the channels H3, k and ha by iron pipes embedded in concrete and located at or about the level of the bottom edges of the regenerators. I prefer to form the channels H2 by registering oriices in the superimposed bricks forming the walls C. l

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes I have illustrated and de- )scribed the best form of embodiment in my invention now known to me, itwill be apparent toi those skilled in the art that -changes may bemade in the form of apsaid surface.

2. In a reelnerative coke oven having a series of co -ng chambers separated by heatmg walls formed with ue spaces and having fuel gas supply channels each extending into the oven structure from the side of the latter and connected to the fiue spaces in a heating wall at intervals along the length of the latter, the improvement which consists in provisions for introducing decarbonizing air into each of said channels at a point remote from the side of the oven structure from which the channel eX- ly to the center of the oven, and having conduits at each side of the oven structure for supplying air under pressure to the oven regenerato'rs to be preheated therein, the improvement which consists in channels and valves for intermittently connecting the gas supply channels at the one side of the oven structure to the conduits at the other side of the structure. y

4. In a vregenerative coke oven having coking chambers, vertically flued heating Walls between the coking chambers and regenerative spaces underneath the oven chambers and having gas supply channels extending into the oven structure from its opposite sides at or about the level of the tops of the regenerative spacesthe improvement which consists in means for introducing decarbonizing air into said channels at points adjacent their inner ends comprising horizontal channels entering the oven structure at the sides of thelatter and at or about the .level of the bottom of the regenerative spaces and vertical channels conf necting said horizontal channels to said gas supply channels.

:5. In a regenerative coke oven, having combustion fines, regenerators, gas supply channels extending into ther oven from the opposite sides of the latter approximately to the center of the oven, and each connected plurality of combustion fines, and a reversing gear for periodically reversing the direction of flow through the regenerators and flue spaces, the improvement which consists in means controlled by said reversing gear for intermittently introducing decarbonizing air into said gas channels at their inner ends.

6. In a vcoke `oven having fuel gas supply channels extending into the oven structure from its -outer surface for sub stantial distances, the improvement which Consists in provisions yfor introducing de- 4carbonizing air into said channels at points remote from said surface and comprising channels located in portions of the battery structure substantially less highly heated than are the Walls of the gas supply channels.

LOUIS W'JLPUTTE` 

